Railway truck



0d. 8, 1940. D, s BARROWS 2,217,246

RAILWAY TRUCK I Original Filed Sept. 20, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 8,1940. D. s. BARROWS 2,217,246

RAILWAY TRUCK Original Filed Sept. 20, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 307a la 15:Bar 0 06 Patented Oct. 8, 1940 UNITED STATES RAILWAY TRUCK 7 Donald S.Barrows-Rochester, N. Y., assignor to The Symington-Gould Corporation,Rochester, N. Y., a corporation of Maryland Original applicationSeptember 20, 1935, Serial No. 41,489, now Patent No. 2,139,434, datedDecember 6, 1938. Divided and this application March 30, 1938, SerialNo. 199,011 I 12 Claims.

This invention has been divided from my of nests of bolster springs withrespect to the associated side frames while said nests are assembled asunits between associated spring plates.

Another object of the instant invention is to provide a railway truck ofrelatively short wheel base using bolster spring groups generally ofmodified H-shape in plan to obtain increased spring capacity whileavoiding interference between the springs and associated brake rigging.

A further object of the invention is to provide a railway truck with theassociated parts so constructed that interference between the insidehung brake beams and the inner bolster spring support is avoided bydecreasing the longitudinal dimension of the inner line of springs.

' An additional object of the invention is the arrangement of springnests and the construction of the plates for said nests, whereby saidnests may be applied to and removed from the associated side frame asunits. Other objects and advantages of the invention relating to theparticular arrangement and construction. of the various parts willbecome apparrent from the following description.

Referring now to the drawings which illustrate exemplary forms of theinvention:

Figure l is a fragmentary side elevation of a railway truck embodying aform of the present invention, portions of the side frame, bolster,spring nest and spring plate being shown in vertical section to moreclearly illustrate the inven- .tion.

Figure 2 is a partial fragmentary plan and partial fragmentaryhorizontal sectional View of the railway truck disclosed by Figure 1,the sectional portion being taken along the lines 2--2 of Figure 1looking in the direction of the arrows. Figure 3 is a horizontalsectional view taken through the bolster guiding portions of the col-.umns, otherwise corresponding approximately with the right=hand portionof Figure 2 but showing another embodiment of the invention.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the lines 4-4 ofFigure 3 and looking in the direction of the-arrows. :1

Figure 5' is a planjview of another nest of springs embodying thepresent invention, a portion thereof being shown in horizontal sectionand the upper spring plates being removed so as to moreclearly'illustrate the invention. -;m

Figure 6 is a side elevational view of the spring nest disclosed byFigure 5 with the right-hand rearspring unit removed.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, like, parts being designated bylike reference charac- .15 ters, and first considering the embodiment ofthe invention illustrated in Figures 1 and. 2, there is shown a portionof a railway truck having laterally spaced side frames l only theintermediate portion of one of which is illustrated. Each side 420 framel desirably comprises a compression member 2 a'tension member 3 andbolster guide columns or strut portions' l the latter of which spaceintermediate portions of the'compression and tension members to leave abolster or window 25 opening 5 therebetween. The compression and tensionmembers extend outwardly beyond the guide columns 4 where they mergeadjacent each end of the side frame with one another and join withintegrally formed journal boxes (not shown) {30 or, in contradistinctionthereto, form jaws for removable or separable journal boxes. 1 I p Inthe present embodiment of the invention the truck illustrated is one ofrelatively short wheel base, and in such a structure, as will be $3.5understood, the brake hanger brackets (not shown) {which extend inwardlyof the railway truck from the guide columns, are spaced very closerelativeto one another. The tension member 3 between the guide columnsis generally {40 box-shaped in cross section and comprises an upper webI 'forming a spring'seat, a lower web 8 spaced vertically from the upperweb 1, and laterally spaced vertically disposed side webs or flanges 9For rigidifying and strengthening the .45 side frame and particularlythe tension member and the junction between the tension member and guidecolumns the tension member is upwardly convoluted or embossed,preferably along the longitudinal center line of the frame adjacent thejunctions with the bolster guide columns, to form upper diagonallydisposed web portions ll which start or are formed near the center ofthe spring seat portion and therefrom extend diagonally upward throughthe guide columns toiio Ward the ends of the side frame. In order tohave the reinforcements I I extend from near the center of the springseat to the guide columns without occupying or closing uptoo much of theclear window opening space, the reinforcements preferably extend to theguide columns-on a moderate inclination, and after intersecting or unionwith the guide columns they are thence continued upwardly and outwardlyat a much" greater inclination to correspond more closely with therelatively steep inclination of the main inclined end portions l2 of thetension-7 member. In this respect the side frames differ somewhat :Tromthe construction of the side frame described and claimed in my priorPatent No. 1,652,808 of- December 13, 1927; p

The reinforcing construction heretofore de- 5 scribed results in abifurcation of the upper web of the tension member, thereby producing atriangular or inclined reinforcement at the junction respectively. Theseextensions I'l and i8 are desirably braced with respect to the webs 9 bytriangular gussets l9 The side frames l are desirably connected togetherby means of the usual bolster l3 which .has an end portion thereofextending into and occupying the upper area of the bolster 'opening Thebolster end is desirably provided with laterally spaced lugs M whichextend outwardly from the sides of the bolster and engage or embrace theguide columns l and a lower spring group engaging surface I4".

' In'the present-embodiment the railway truck 'is of thespring-plankless type and is provided with a nest of springs 28*,forming a resilient 'mounting for the bolster end, and is interposed.betweenthe tensionmember; 3e andthe associated end of the bolster. Thenest ofsprings 28 .has a lower spring plate which bears :directly on theupper web l of the tension memher. The lower spring plate 25 isdesirably upwardly embossed or corrugated, as indicated at 29 to nestover the corrugations or embossments ll on the associated side frame,thereby retaining the spring plate and the associated nest of springs ina desired or predetermined positon. The lower spring plate 25}? hasupwardly .extending collars or annular flanges 25 which serve toposition or center the associated spring or spring units 28 of the nest.I The nest of springs is also provided with an upper spring platepreferably corresponding :with the lower spring plate 25, and both ofsaid plates are desirably retained in assembled relation by a'normallyvertical bolt 42. The head 112' of the bolt is preferably received'in anupwardly embossed portion forming a downwardly opening pocket 43in thelower'spring plate 25*, and the associated nut 44 on the free or upperend ofthe said bolt is received in a correspondingly upwardly openingpocket or downwardly embossed portion 45 formed in the upper spring p a35 .1 y. f

' In order to provide a nest of "springs with deing surfaces.

sirable stability against rocking of the supported bolster l3illustrated as of the type described and claimed in my copendingapplication Serial No. 183,209, filed January 3, 1938, while at the sametime making it possible to insert and remove the spring nest 28 as aunit after assembly between the upper and lower spring plates, the outerspring units or coils are desirably positioned a normal distance apartwhereby they are disposed with their upper portions longitudinallybeyond the planes of the bolster guid- The innermost spring units,however, are positioned close enough together so that they clear thebolster guiding surfaces, and the inner portions of the plates 25 and 35are formed of correspondingly reduced width, as most clearly illustratedin Figure 2, so that the outline V of the springs inwardly of theoutermost row thereof is shorter than the distance between the "guidecolumn portions, thereby permitting insertion of the entire nest ofsprings after assembly with the plates into position with respect totheassociated side frame. The innermost spring units are also closelyassociated as illustrated and decribed so as to prevent interferencebetween these springs and the inside hung brake beams, the latter ofwhich are not shown.

It has not previously been possible to make.

such an assembly of the entire group of springs when employing a doubletruss side frame of the type illustrated because the basic group isfundamentally H-shaped'in plan and the window opening below the columnfaces or bolster guiding portions is too narrow to accommodate springsin position, especially when the plate'is raised to clear the triangularportions ll of the inner truss. By keeping all but the outer row 7 ofsprings within the distance between the transverse vertical planes ofthe bolster engaging surfaces of the guide columns the spring group maybe raised toclear the inner truss or embossments ll and allow for its.application or removal as a unit.

It will be observed that the nestof springs 28 and the associated upperand lower spring plates 95 and 25 respectively, are formed substantially.orgenerally H-shape in plan, including five springs two of which formthe inner upright of the H, and are positioned close enough together sothat these springs-and their associated portions of the spring plate maybe sufficiently narrow to pass between the bolster guiding surfacesof-the guide columns in order to allow for application and removal ofthe nest whileassembled with the plates. The springs, two in number,forming the outer upright of the H are positioned far enough apart toprovide for the desired nest stability against rocking of thesuperimposed bolster so that the outer width of the nest is greater thanthe distance between Referring now to the embodiment of the inventionillustrated in Figures 3 and 4, there is shown a fragmentary portion ofa side frame I? having a tension member 3 on which is supported a nestof springs 28 As in the preceding embodiment, the nest of springs has alower spring plate 25 which is upwardly embossed or corrugated, asindicated at 29*, to nest over the corrugations or embossments ll on thetension member 3* of the associated side frame, thereby retaining thenest in a predetermined position on the tension member. The lower springplate 25 has upwardly extending collars or annular flanges 26 whichserve to position or center the associated springs or spring units ofthe nest. Each spring unit in the present embodiment comprises an outercoil 46 and an inner coil 41 rather than being merely of the single coiltype as in the preceding embodiment. It will, however, be understoodthat the present invention need not be limited to the types of springunits employed in this or other embodiments.

The nest of springs 28 is also desirably provided with an upper springplate (not shown) preferably corresponding with the lower spring plate25 said plates being desirably held together by a normally vertical bolt42* and an associated nut (not shown) substantially the same as in thepreceding embodiment. On account of the fact that the present embodimenthas seven spring units, rather than five as in the preceding embodiment,only five of the said units are desirably disposed between the mainupper and lower spring plates, three of said units being disposedoutwardly of the longitudinal central plane of the associated side framel one unit being disposed with its axis in said plane, and the remainingunit being disposed inwardly of said plane. The spring plates, as in thepreceding embodiment, are formed sufliciently narrow inwardly of theouter row of springs so that the associated nest, when assembled withsaid plates, may be applied to and removed from the associated frame asan assembled unit.

Supplementing the springs 46 and 4'! of the nest of springs 28* areauxiliary spring units 48, each unit desirably comprising an outer coil48 and an inner coil 50 and having an auxiliary lower plate 5! and anupper reversely formed complementary spring plate (not shown). The mainlower spring plate 25 is interlocked with the lower auxiliary springplates 5! in any desirable manner, for example, by having the adjacentportions 52 and 53 of each auxiliary spring plate upwardly flanged ordirected inwardly of the spring nest, as most clearly illustrated inFigure 4, and received in correspondingly formed pockets 54 and 55formed on said main spring plate 25*.

The interlocking or inter-engagement between the upper main andauxiliary spring plates may correspond substantially with that structuredisclosed and described for the interlocking between the lower main andauxiliary spring plates as will be understood, said upper and lower mainspring plates being desirably interchangeable and of substantiallyidentical construction, and the auxiliary spring plates, beingsymmetrical about the longitudinal vertical plane of the rear row ofsprings, are also interchangeable.

In assembling the nest of springs illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 themain nest28 may be assembled with the main upper and lower spring platesand the entire unit secured together by means of the bolt 42* priortoinsertion in the window opening 5 of the side frame I. The lowerauxiliary spring plates 5! being in place, the nest 28 is elevatedsufficiently to clear the tri angular reinforcing portions l of the sideframe and then lowered down over the flanges 52 and 53 of the lowerauxiliary spring plates 5! so that the interlock between said flangesand the pocketed portions 54 and 55 of the lower main spring plate 25 isefiected. After this procedure the auxiliary spring units 48 are appliedor positioned over the spring plates 5! around the spring positioningcollars 56 thereon, and the top auxiliary plates (not shown) are thenpositioned over the spring units 48 with their corresponding flanges 52and 53 fitting or projecting within the upwardly opening pockets 54 and55 of the upper main spring plate- (not shown).

Referring now to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures5 and 6, there is shown a nest of springs 28 adapted to be em ployedlike the nests 28 and 28 of the preceding embodiments, except that itinvolves an elliptic or banded leaf spring 51 in addition to the helicalsprings or spring units 58. Although the associated side frame is notillustrated, it will be clearly understood that the spring nest may beemployed with the side frame like the nest of the springs 28 and 28 Asin the preceding embodiment, the nest 28 comprises main lower and upperspring plates 25 and 35 desirably held together by a pair of normallyvertical bolts 42, the head of each bolt being preferably received in anupwardly or inwardly embossed portion forming a downwardly openingpocket 43 in the lower main spring plate 25, and the associated nut 44on the upper or free end of each bolt being received in correspondinglyupwardly opening pocket 45, the latter of which is formed by downwardlyembossing the main upper spring plate 35.

These main plates 25 and 35, when secured together by the bolts 42,secure the two outer helical spring units and the intermediate ellipticspring in assembled relation so that the nest 28 may be handled as aunit for application and re-. moval with respect to an associated sideframe (not shown). As in each of the preceding embodiments, each springplate 25 and 35 desirably has cylindrical spring positioning collars. 26for the helical or coil springs and, in addition thereto, has agenerally rectangular spring posisides 6! are desirably joined byrelatively high side or flange portions 62 which extend upwardly alongthe edges of the leaves and embrace those portions of the bands 69laterally of the leaves.

Supplementing the springs of the nest of springs 28 are auxiliary springunits 48, each unit in the present embodiment comprising a single coil,although double coils may be employed-if desired, as in the precedingembodiment, not only for the auxiliary helical springs but also for themain helical springs. associated therewith a lower auxiliary springplate 5i and an upper spring plate 33, said upper and lower springplates being desirably formed identical so that they may beinterchanged. The lowermost spring plate 25 is interlocked with thelower auxiliary spring plate 5! in any desired manner, for example, byhaving the adjacent portions 52 and 53 of said auxiliary spring plateupwardly flanged, as illustrated, and received in or extending intocorrespondingly formed pockets 54 and 55 on said main plate 25. Theinterlocking between the upper main and auxiliary spring plates maycorrespond substantially with that between the lower main and auxiliaryspring plates, as will be understood. In assembling the nest of springsillustrated in Figures 5 and 6, the main nest 23 or the elliptic spring5'! and the springs or spring units 58 may be assembled with the mainupper and lower The spring units 48 have spring plates and the entireunit secured together by the bolts 42 prior to insertion of the unit inthe Window opening of an associated side frame '(not shown). The lowerauxiliary spring plate 5l,--'being previously set in place on a tensionmember of a side frame, the assembled nest 28 is then inserted in amanner similar to the nest 28 of the preceding embodiment, that is, itmay be'elevated if'necessary to clear triangular reinforcing portions inthe window of a side frame iffemployed with that particular type of sideframe, and in any event raised sufficiently to clear the flange portions52 and 53 on the auxiliary plate The assembled nest is then lowered downover said flanges so as to effect the desired interlock between the mainand auxiliary plates, said flange portions being received or positionedin the pockets 5 and 55 provided in the main spring plate.

The main spring plates c and are shown with flat outer or frame andbolster engaging surfaces adapting them for employment with theconventional type of frame without triangular reinforcing portions likethose designated by the reference character H in Figures 1 and 2. Ifemployed with a frame of the double truss type, "suchas described andclaimed in my Patent No. 1,652,808 previously referred to, with suchtriangular reinforcing portions, it will be found desirable to have theplates corrugated like those of the preceding embodiments in order tonest with the reinforcements and thereby form means to' retain theassembled unit in a predetermined position within the window opening ofan asso-' ciated side frame. After this procedure the auxiliary springunits 48 are applied over the springplates5l and around the springpositioning col- ,lars 56 thereon and the top auxiliary spring plate 63positioned over the spring units 48 with its corresponding flanges 64fitting within or extending'into upwardly opening pockets 65 of theupper main spring plate 35.

' It will be understood that although I have shown'only one side frameand the associated end of the bolster, the truck, as is usual, is formedwith two side frames which are connected by means of the usual bolsteror load-carrying member.

I .claim:

1. In arailway truck, in combination, a side frame comprisingcompression and tension mem; bers spaced at intermediate portions bybolster guide columns leaving awindow opening there between, thatportionof the tension member beneath said window opening being adaptedto support a spring plate, and a nest of springs compris ing upper andlower spring plates supported on said tension member, each spring platehaving its outer end relatively wide to accommodate springs spaced apartsuch a distance that when assembled they will provide the nest with thedesired sta bility against rocking of a supported bolster, whichdistance gives the nest an outer width greater than that between guidesurfaces of said columns, and decreased in width toward its inner end toa distance less than that between said guide surfaces, whereby said nestof springs may be assembled with its plates and then inserted or removedas a unit.

2. In combination, a bolster with its ends formed with lower springengaging surfaces, nests of springs with spring plates disposed inengagement with said surfaces, said plates beingsufficiently wide attheir outer ends so that the outer springs of the nests may bepositioned far enough apart to provide the nest with the desiredstability against rocking of said bolster, and thu's'wider at said outerends than the distance between the bolster guiding surfaces ofassociated side frames, and decreasing in width at the portions normallyreceived in said side frame bolster openings in order to provide forapplication and removal of said nests of springsxwhile said springs areassembled therewith.

3. A nest of at least five bolster spring units provided with associatedspring plates for holding said units assembled, said plates being ofmaximum width at their outer ends, so that the outer spring units may bepositioned far enough apart to provide the nest 'with the desiredstability against rocking of an associated bolster and thus so far apartthat the outer dimensions thereof are greater than the distance betweenthe bolster guiding surfaces of an associated side frame,'said platesbeing of lesser width inwardly therefrom to make application and removalwith respect to said side frame possible while the spring units areassembled with respect thereto.

4. In a railway truck, in combination, a side frame comprising acompression member, a tension member, bolster guide columns spacingintermediate portions of said members and spaced to leave a bolsteropening therebetween, that portion of the tension member beneath saidbolster opening having embossments extending from the lower ends of thebolster guide columns toward the central portion thereof, a springplatesup.- ported on said tension member and formed of corrugationsinterlocking with said embossrnents, a

' sired stability against rocking of a supported bolster, which distancegives the nest an outer width greater than that between the guidingportions of the columns, and an upper plate of'corresponding formdisposed on top of said nest of springs and adapted tobe engaged by thesupported bolster.

5. A nest of at least five bolster spring units provided with associatedmembers for holding said units assembled and formed as two rows with acentral spring unit positioned directly between the rows, making anarrangement substantially H-shape in plan, the spring units of the outerrow being positioned far enough apart to provide the nest with thedesired stability against rocking of an, associated bolster, and thusfurther apart than the distance between the bolster guiding surfaces ofan associated side frame, the spring units of the inner row beingpositioned closer together than those of the outer row so as to beadapted, without disassembly, to pass between said bolster guidingsurfaces.

6. A spring plate for a nest of springs generally H-shaped in plan, saidplate being provided with at least five spring positioning collarscorresponding with the springs on the uprights and the cross piece ofsaid H, the collars for the springs on the inner upright of said H beingpositioned close enough together so that the width of the plate may besufiiciently narrow at that point to pass between the bolsterv guidingsurfaces of an associated side frame, thereby allowing for applicationand removal of the nest employing said plate while assembled, thecollars for said springs, which are positioned farthest from one anotherto form the ends of the outer upright of said H, being positioned farenough apart to provide for the desired nest stability against rockingof an associated bolster so that the outer width of the nest is greaterthan the distance between the bolster guiding surfaces of saidassociated side frame.

'7. A two-piece spring plate device adapted to engage one end of a nestof springs comprising a main spring plate engaging most of the springsof said nest, and an auxiliary spring plate engaging at least one of theremainder of said springs, one of said plates having an angularlydisposed flange directed inwardly of said nest and the other platehaving a corresponding pocket normally receiving said flange and holdingsaid plates in proper relation with respect toone another.

8. A two-piece spring plate device adapted to engage a nest of springscomprising a main spring plate engaging some of the springs of the nest,and an auxiliary spring plate engaging at least one of the remainder ofthe springs, said main spring plate having a pocket facing away fromsaid springs adapted to receive an angularly disposed flange provided onsaid auxiliary spring plate for holding said plates in properrelationwith respect to one another.

9. A nest of bolster spring units provided with associated spring platesfor holding said units assembled, said plates being of maximum width attheir outer ends and of lesser width inwardly therefrom to facilitateapplication and removal with respect to an associated side frame whilethe spring units are in position with respect thereto, auxiliary springsand associated plates assembled with said nest of springs, and meansdetachably interlocking said nest plates and auxiliary plates.

10. A nest of bolster spring units provided with associated springplates, means connecting said plates for holding said nest assembled,said plates being of maximum width at one end. thereof so that theassociated springs may be positioned far enough apart to provide thenest with the desired stability against rocking of an associatedbolster, and thus so far apart that the outer dimension thereof isgreater than the distance between the guiding surfaces of an associatedside frame, said plates being of lesser width at the other end thereofto make application and removal with respect to said side frame possiblewhile the spring units are assembled with respect thereto.

11. A nest of bolster spring units provided with associated main springplates, means connecting said main spring plates for holding said unitsassembled, said plates being of maximum width at one end thereof so thatthe associated springs may be positioned to provide the nest with thedesired stability against rocking of an associated bolster, and thus sothat the over-all dimension thereof is greater than the distance betweenthe guiding surfaces of an associated side frame, said main plates beingof lesser width at the other end thereof to make application and removalwith respect to said side frame possible while the spring units areassembled with respect thereto, and an auxiliary spring plate engagingat least one other spring unit, said main and auxiliary spring plateshaving interlocking portions for maintaining the springs in apredetermined position.

12. A multi-part spring plate device adapted to engage a nest of springscomprising a main spring plate engaging some of the springs of saidnest, and an auxiliary spring plate engaging at least one of theremainder of said springs, one of said plates having an angularlydisposed flange and the other of said plates having a correspondingpocket normally receiving said flange so as to retain said plates inproper relation with respect to one another, "one of said plates alsohaving convoluted portions for interlocking engagement withcorrespondingly formed portions of an associated side frame for holdingsaid plates in proper relation with respect to the said side frame.

DONALD S. BARROWS.

